Your direction: Being led down the wrong road.

God Direction: Turn around.

The directions are simple enough, but how do you know if you're being led down the wrong road? Let's read the Bible verse:

Matthew 7:15-23 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"¹

False prophets deceive. The dangerous thing about deception is the person being deceived doesn't know it. We can all fall into the trap of a false prophet. In fact I believe that many of the false prophets honestly think they are right.  This explains what Jesus is talking about when He says that many will say "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform miracle?"  When I think about this verse, it scares me. The false prophets will be able to prophesy, drive out demons, and even perform miracles. We are doomed. How can we tell the difference?

Jesus says we can tell by their fruit (deeds, or results of their actions). We should ask ourselves what are the results of their teaching and preaching?  Are they leading people to God thru Christ or away from God and Christ? How do they treat the people around them? Are they just in it for the money? Is God blessing their ministry? Is it based in the Bible? In other verses of the Bible we are told to test their Spirit to see if it is of God. We should pray and study the Bible asking God to reveal the false prophets.

On our last day, excuses will not work with God. We will not be able to blame someone else for our lack of saving faith. It is our responsibility to not be deceived. We must take the time to pray, read and study the Bible, go to church and seek council from Godly people, because that is the only way we will know. Thank God that He promises to keep and guard those who believe and meditate on His Word.

Let's pray: Heavenly Father, we are humbled in knowing that we can be deceived. We know that we can't, under our own power, know who the false prophets are but with your help and guidance we will not fall prey to them. Help us to find the time to pray and read and study Your Word. In Jesus Christ's Name I pray, Amen.

¹The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Mt 7:15-23). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.